The US Department of Defense released a Request for Information (RFI) in July this year to let the industry know what the U.S. Navy is expecting from the Fast Frigate, Guided (Experimental) or FFG(X). The RFI says, "A competition for FFG(X) is envisioned to consider existing parent designs for a Small Surface Combatant that can be modified to accommodate the specific capability requirements prescribed by the US Navy."

The U.S. Navy wants a frigate that can keep up with carrier strike groups as well as conduct missions on its own. “The FFG(X) will normally aggregate into strike groups and Large Surface Combatant led surface action groups but also possess the ability to robustly defend itself during conduct of independent operations while connected and contributing to the fleet tactical grid.” The U.S. Navy expects the frigate to be survivable in complex scenarios: "FFG(X) will perform its missions in complex electronic warfare and anti-ship missile threat environments".

The frigate displacement isn't mentionned in the RFI, but it is likely to be comprised between 4000 tons (if the design is to stay as close as possible to the LCS) and in excess of 6000 tons (in view of the requirements set by the U.S. Navy, which is particularly interested on how the shipbuilders can fit VLS for ESSM and Standard Missiles and how many).

Possible European designs: European shipbuilders that we contacted used broad terms such as "we are looking at the RFI", "we are considering the opportunity", "we are considering the option" or "we are debating it internally".While none of the four companies which talked to us went into specific ship design, here is our own speculation on the likely frigate designs to be proposed, should these companies answer the RFI.

BAE Systems Type 26 Global Combat ShipThe Type 26 is the future ASW Frigate that will replace the Royal Navy's 13 Type 23 frigates and other ships. BAE Systems says the Type 26 / Global Combat Ship will be a highly capable and versatile multi-mission warship designed to support anti-submarine warfare, air defence and general purpose operations anywhere on the world’s oceans. First steel cut of the first frigate (Glasgow) for the Royal Navy took place in July this year. BAE Systems is also proposing the Type 26 in customized configurations to the Royal Canadian Navy (CSC program) and has been shortlisted for the Royal Australian Navy (SEA 5000 program) with an Australian CEA radar.

Artist Impression of DCNS proposal to the Royal Canadian Navy CSC requirement (FREMM Frigate in Air Defense variant based on the Aquitaine-class). Picture: Naval Group (DCNS)

Naval Group FREMM (Aquitaine-class)The FREMM ("European multi-purpose frigate"; French: Frégate européenne multi-mission; Italian: Fregata europea multi-missione) is a class of multi-purpose frigates designed by Naval Group (formerly DCNS) and Fincantieri for the navies of France and Italy. In France the class is known as the Aquitaine-class. The FREMM was designed from the start by DCNS as a potent ASW platform with very low acoustic signature even at speed. Naval Group is also proposing the FREMM in a customized configuration to the Royal Canadian Navy (CSC program). Naval Group's FREMM has been exported to the Egyptian and Moroccan Navies.

The Belharra unveiled by Naval Group at Euronaval 2016, seen here with a 127mm main gun and RAM launcher.

FTI scale model at Euronaval 2016 on the French MoD stand.

Naval Group Belharra (FTI-class)Unveiled at Euronaval 2016, the Belharra is the successor of the La Fayette-class. The French Defence Ministry announced the attribution to DCNS (now Naval Group) of a contract for the development and construction of five FTI (Frégate de Taille Intermédiaire or mid-size frigate) surface combatant intended for the French Navy in April this year. The first of the five frigates should be delivered in 2023 with an entry into active duty in 2025. Naval Group say that Belharra is their answer to navies looking for a compact frigate able to perform a wide range of missions, both stand-alone or within a task force, either for long-range missions on the high seas or shallow-water operations in a congested and contested operational environment. This new frigate features high-level capabilities in anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine and asymmetric warfare domains.

Fincantieri SEA5000 proposal is based on the Italian Navy FREMM ASW design

Fincantieri FREMM (Bergamini-class & Virginio Fasan-class)The FREMM ("European multi-purpose frigate"; French: Frégate européenne multi-mission; Italian: Fregata europea multi-missione) is a class of multi-purpose frigates designed by Naval Group (formerly DCNS) and Fincantieri for the navies of France and Italy. The Italian Navy opted for two variants: A general purpose one known as the Bergamini-class and an ASW variant known as the Virginio Fasan-class. A proposal based on the later has been shortlisted for the Royal Australian Navy (SEA 5000 program) with an Australian CEA radar.

Fincantieri Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Ship (PPA-class)PPA, Pattugliatore Polivalente d'Altura (Offshore Multipurpose Patrol Ship) is a new Frigate class of the Marina Militare. It is planned to replace eight Minerva class corvettes, four Comandanti class patrol vessels, two Sirio class patrol vessels and four Cassiopea class patrol vessels The PPA, first of seven units, will be delivered in 2021 and it is part of the renewal plan of the operational lines of the Italian Navy vessels, approved by the Government and Parliament and started in May 2015. There will be three variants: PPA Light, PPA Light+ and PPA Full. According to Fincantieri, the multipurpose offshore patrol vessel is a highly flexible ship with the capacity to serve multiple functions, ranging from patrol with sea rescue capacity to Civil Protection operations and, in its most highly equipped version, first line fighting vessel. PPA Full is even set to become an ABM capable vessel.

Navantia's SEA5000 proposal is based on the Hobart class Air Warfare Destroyer design.

Navantia F100 (Álvaro de Bazán-class)The Álvaro de Bazán-class (also known as the F100 class of frigates) was designed and built by Spanish shipbuilder Navantia for the Spanish Navy. It is fitted with the US Aegis combat system and AN/SPY-1 radar. Norway's Fridtjof Nansen-class and Australia's Hobart-class are both based on the F-100. A proposal based on the Hobart-class has also been shortlisted for the Royal Australian Navy (SEA 5000 program) with an Australian CEA radar.

Navantia F110 The Spanish Navy will be replacing the Santa Maria class FFG Frigate with F-110 Frigates around 2025. The F-110 Frigate is not only focused on substituting the functionality of the "Santa Maria" class but also in providing solutions to facing latest threats and performing future expected missions. From the start of the program, Navantia has been cooperating closely with the Spanish Navy in the requirements for a 21st century frigate and in 2015 Navantia signed a contract with the Spanish MoD for the development of the project definition phase. In parallel, a suite of technological R&D programs have been initiated looking to acquire the latest innovations to be incorporated in the F-110 program. There are 5 units of the class planned with launch of the first unit expected for 2021.